Mexico City Brings Gay Marriage South of the Border

Posted on Dec 21, 2009

Mexico City, one of the largest metropolises in the world, is set to become the first city in Latin America to legalize gay marriage. The mega-city and its surrounding suburbs are home to roughly 20 million people, just under one-fifth of Mexico’s population.

A few cities in Latin America already have same-sex civil unions, Mexico City among them, but the Mexican capital will be the first to legalize same-sex marriage. Not all of that staunchly Catholic part of the world is thrilled with the development.

Isn’t the difference between a civil union and marriage just a name and maybe some tasteful decorations? Not so. Read below about what the change means to Mexico City’s gays. —PZS

AP via Google:

The bill calls for changing the definition of marriage in the city’s civil code. Marriage is currently defined as the union of a man and a woman. The new definition will be “the free uniting of two people.”

The change would allow same-sex couples to adopt children, apply for bank loans together, inherit wealth and be included in the insurance policies of their spouse, rights they were denied under civil unions allowed in the city.